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8 - "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2001 LISA McCLURE/WEEKEND STAR Olivia Puckrin (left), Sam Meyer, Caitlyn Strange and Kyle Manchee are among the young musicians taking part in the Prince Albert/Port Perry Honour Band under the direction of Port Perry High School music instructor Rory Snider-McGrath. They play in the Family of Schools concert April 11. Honour Band prepares for annual concert in April By Lisa McClure Port Perry Star The Port Perry/Prince Albert Elementary Honour Band of 2001 has just one more week of practice before their performance at the annual Family of Schools concert April 11. In January, music stu- dents from S.A. Cawker, Prince Albert PS. and RH. Cornish had the opportunity to audition for the elite band. Forty-one students were chosen to join the ensemble of Grade 7 and 8 students. Each year the honour band is directed by Rory Snider-McGrath, a music teacher at-Port Perry High School. He says the project is . designed in part to encourage the young stu- dents to continue with music when they reach Grade 9. "They're the best honour band to date," Mr. Snider McGrath boasted. "They've totally impressed me with their talent, which means the feeder schools are doing an excellent job." Not only does the hon- our band increase participa- tion in high school bands, but it provides an opportu- nity for students to perform with other talented musi- cians from the area. At the band's .second rehearsal, a clinic was given by local pro- fessional musicians on flute, clarinet, saxophone and percussion. The hard work that the students have put forth at rehearsals every Monday night for the past several weeks, is all in preparation for the Family of Schools Concert, to be held at Port Perry High School. Choirs and bands from each of the elementary schools will perform at the Wednesday night concert along with the high school's own jazz-blues band, Peapod's Blues Review, and the Senior Wind Ensemble. Youth highlighted in Uxbridge show April 5 By Anthony Holt If one continues to have doubts about the accom- plishments of young peo- FIND THE BUNNY WITH THE MONEY Ontario's largest selection of Easter treats using the finést of : Belgium Chocola THE NUTTY sanamade & | LQ UELNILERTATH Decorated for Easter PCO LTD Find up to $100. Ne? Ask for details in store 182 Queen St, Port Perry 985 www. nuttyvchoco.com ple, a visit to the "United in Harmony" concert in Uxbridge on April 5 is high- ly and warmly recommend- ed. The four high schools in north Durham all have strong musical traditions, their bands regularly pre- senting fall, Christmas and spring concerts. They also take part in various entries of the Sunderland Music Festival. Imagine then the musical power when they join forces. Their "united" concert will be given in Uxbridge Secondary School. This will be the second such concert following the success of last year's occasion. There will be performances both by individual bands and also by the combined forces of 200 young musicians, who will include in their perfor- mances works by Rimsky- Korsakov and by the mod- ern composer Jack Stamp. Another highlight will be the premiere of a new work for brass quintet by well known Durham composer, Nancy Telfer. The universal power of music and its value in con- tributing to the educational growth of young people cannot be overstated - especially when schools and students are the sub- ject of so much examina- tion these days. The "United in Harmony" concert will be presented on Thursday, April 5 in Uxbridge Secondary School and will begin at 7:30 p.m.'